Electrical switch



Dec. 17, 1929.- R. w. JOLLY ,739,

Y-IELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed Feb. 9, 1927' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z3 27 I J W c t k l Dec. 17, 1929. R. w. JOLLY 7 1,739,596

ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed Feb. 9, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 17, 1929 uNrrEn STATES PATENT OFFICE RICHARD WARD JOLLY, OF VJIMBLEDGN, LONDON, ENG-LAND, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO BRITISH ELECTRIC METERS, LIMITED, OF LONDON,

ENGLAND ELECTRICAL SW'ITCH Application filed February 9, 1927, Serial No.

This invention relates to coin-freed prepayment electricity meters.

The invention consists in certain combinations of elements hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which represent one form of the invention by way of example Figure 1 is a general view of the mechanism;

Figure 2 is a view of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrow in the position assumed immediately after switch has opened in response to movement of meter mechanism, the relative position of the parts assumed when the switch is closed being shown in dotted lines Figure 3 is a view of the position assumed by the switch-operating cams when the switch is open;

Figure 3 being a corresponding view when the switch is closed;

Figures 4 to? are details;

Figure 8 is a front view of the coin pocket and adjacent parts with a part removed;

Figure 9 is a corresponding side view partly in section;

Figure 10 is a rear view of Figure 9 looking in the direction of the arrow, and finally Figure 11 is a detail view of the lever removed from the coin pocket.

According to the form of the invention illustrated, a camshaft, 1, is provided conveniently above and parallel to the axis of rotation of the coin-pocket system, 2, (see Figure 1) to be described hereafter and preferably of square section, on which camshaft three cam-members, 3, 4 and 5, are mounted, called the first, second and third cam-members, and spaced apart by suitable distance pieces, 6, placed upon the camshaft. Each cam-member has four similar cams situated equiangularly around the camshaft.

Each cam on the first cam-member, 3, has a conveXly curved surface, 7 and straight surface, 8, with a straight portion, 9, between the two. The second cam-member, 4, is a Maltese cross, the arms, 11, of which have their ends, 12, formed of a portion of a circle concentric with the spindle. The third cam- 167,028, and in Great Britain April 10, 1926.

member, 5, is a four-pointed star the arms, 13, of which have their points cut off.

On a suitable spindle, 14, above and to the side of the camshaft is mounted a bell-crank lever, 15, to which is attached an insulating arm, 16, on which is mounted the actual switch blade, 17, which makes contact with any suitable corresponding portion, 18, of the switch to close the circuit. The bell-crank lever, 15, is provided with a. spring, 19, which acts to close the switch.

One end of the bell-crank lever is provided with a pin, 20, which engages with the concentric portion, 12, on the second cam-member, 4:, when the switch is open, this pin, 20, entering between the arms, 11, when the switch is closed, the sudden slipping off of the pin, 20, from the concentric portion into the space between the arms, 11, causing the quick make throu h the spring, 19.

Loosely mounted on the same spindle as the switch bell-crank lever, 15, is a lever arm, 21, having a pin, 22, projecting on each side, one end of the pin engaging in a slot, 23, in the bell-crank lever, 15, and the other end with the cams on the first cam-member, 3. A strong spring 24, is provided to press the lever arm, 21, so that its pin, 22, makes contact with the bell-crank lever, 15, and the first cam-member, 3, and acts to open the switch.

A lever, 25, having a long pendulous arm trip finger, 26, is mounted upon a rotating spindle, 27, and is provided with a pin, 28, very near to the spindle and with a bent-over portion, 29, at its end. The lever arm, 26, is positioned so that its pin, 28, co-acts with the cam-member, 5, and its bent-over portion 29, enters a slot, 30, in a rotatable disc wheel or trip cam, 31, when the slot is in a certain position. The disc, 31, is made as thin as practicable so as to reduce friction of con tact with the bent-over portion of the depending arm. The trip cam, 31, is connected to a difierential mechanism in such a manner that the coin pocket rotates the trip cam, 31, in one direction while the meter returns it to its original position.

To secure this result the toothed or notched wheel, 55, has co-axially mounted thereon a crown wheel, 32, a second crown wheel, 32, with integral sleeve, 32, being rotatahly carried on a spindle 32, on' which in turn are rigidly mounted the trip cam, 31, and the frame or arm, 32, having rotably mounted thereon the planet wheel, 32, meshing with the two crown wheels, 32 and 32". In addition, a wormwheel, 32 is rigidly attached to the crown wheel, 32", and is driven from the meter mechanism by the worm, 32

Normally the depending arm, 26, hangs freely downwards under the influence of gravity and is clear of the disc, 31, (see full lines in Figure 2) but when the arms, 13, of the third cam-member, 5, make contact with the pin, 28, on the lever, 25, the depending arm, 26, is brought in contact with the trip cam, 31, and thus prevents the camshaft from rotating. (See Figure 2*.)

As regards the coin pocket itself, the frame, 51, (see Figure 9) is provided with a pricechange plate, 35, which is rotatably mount-er upon the frame, 51, and has a slot, 36, of suitable size for the coin by which the mechanism is designed to be operated. The price plate is locked in varying angular positions, according to the price of electricity, by means of a stop, 37, provided on the frame, 51, which engages with indentations or teeth on the periphery of the price plate. This stop, 37, can be removed and the plate rotated, or conversely the price plate can be pulled outwards, i. e., to the right in Figure 9, so that the teeth clear the stop, rotated and replaced with another'to'oth engaging the stop. The price plate, 35, is held from being disengaged from the stop by means of ring, 38, fastened to the frame, 51, by any suitable means so that no unauthorized person can change the plate.

Mounted rotatably on the price plate is another plate, 39, having a slot, 40, for the coin of the same size as or larger than the slot, 36, in the price plate.

The price plate is provided in the centre with a.hole through which passes the handle or knob, 41, which is securely fixed to the plate, 39. The knob, 41, is provided with a flange so that it cannot pass through the hole in the price plate. The plate, 39, can thus be rotated relatively to the price plate. A projecting portion, 42, is provided in the plate, 39, which comes in contact with a stop, 43, on the back of the price plate in which position the slots, 36 and 40, coincide for the insertion of the coin. Immediately behind the slot, 40, is provided a pocket for the coin, 44, this pocket consisting of a U-shaped metal chamber, 45, the ends of the arms being flanged over to form feet, 46, which are secured to the plate, 39. The coin pocket may be attached by any other suitable means to the plate, 39.

Over the end of the coin pocket, which is open, a catch, 47, is provided to prevent the coin from escaping consisting of a right angled or L-shaped piece of metal sheet, the short end of which covers the opening and the long end of which is secured to a flat spring, 48, fastened to the side of the coin pocket to keep the coin pocket closed. This catch is operated in the extreme position of travel by a stop, 49, against which it comes in contact so as to openthe pocket and allow the coin to be ejected while the projection, 50, makes contact with the coin pocket itself and prevents further rotation. This stop, 49, is mounted in a fixed position upon theframe of the mechanism.

In the coin pocket is mounted a lever, 34, (Figure 11) having a projection, 52, slidable between two pins, 53, 53*, in said pocket in a radial direction and having also an indentation, 52 to engage pivotally with the pin, 53. The free end of the lever projects through the open end of the pocket away from the end in which the coin is placed and is provided with a projection, 54, which is adapted to engage in a toothed or notched wheel, 55, when the coin is inserted. ,The lever, 34, is also provided with a finger, 33, for the purpose to be hereinafter described,

this finger when the projection, 54, is withdrawn by the spring, 57, out of engagement with the wheel, 55, being to one side of the plane of the first cam-member,- 3, so that rotation of the coin pocket without an inserted coin by the knob, 41, cannot bring the finger, 33, into engagement with the cam-member,3.

The projection, 54, on the lever is preferably so arranged that rotation of the lever about the pin, 53, brings the projection up against the toothed or notched wheel, 55, at a distance less than the bottom of the teeth from the centre of said wheel. In this man- .ner the projection, 54, on the lever will not enter the teeth or notches in any position, unless a radial motion is given to said projection which then allows it to enter the notch or tooth corresponding to .itsposition. On or near the projection, 54, of the lever is mounted a pin, 56, to which is attached a spring, 57, the other end of the spring being attached to a suitable pin, 58. This pin is situated so as to be out of alignment with the line joining the end of the lever and the pin, 53, about which the lever pivots. In this manner the spring tends always to pull the I lever towards the end in which the coin is inserted and also rotates the lever about the such a shape that on insertion of the coin the lever is made firstto rotate about the pin, 53, against the force of the spring and afterwards to slide in a radial direction away from the coin to allow the end of the lever to engage in the teeth or notches of the wheel, 55, until the coin has been inserted a sufficient amount when the lever springs back and draws the coin completely into the pocket by means of the inclined edge, 60.

The price plate, 2, may be so arranged by locating it with respect to the toothed wheel, 55, that the projection, 5- 1, on the lever will not enter a tooth or notch on the plate, 55, when the coin is inserted until the handle has been turned sufficiently to completely close the slot, 40, through which the coin has been inserted.

The centre of the coin pocket may be provided with a small trunnion, 61, which fits into the centre of the toothed or notched wheel, 55, so as to form a hearing about which the coin pocket rotates.

The toothed or notched wheel, 55, is attached to the usual differential mechanism, 32, (see Figure 1) or the like which controls the supply.

To prepay a certain quantity of electricity, a coin is inserted in the slot thereby swin ing the lever, 34, into a position such that the projection, 54, engages with the teeth of the wheel, 55, and the finger, 33, is brought into the plane of the cam-member, 3; the coin pocket is then rotated by the knob, l1, until the finger, 33, engages with the cam-member, 3, this engagement preferably taking place over only the small angle at the end of the movement of the coin pocket corresponding to the last four teeth or notches on the price plate, any alteration in the quantity which is to be supplied for a given coin by the meter being made by angular adjustment of the change-price plate so as to increase or clecrease the possible angular movement of the coin pocket.

As the camshaft, 1, is thus rotated in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Figure 2 to the positions shown in Figures 3 and 3", the lever-arm, 21, is raised by the action of the curved surface, 7, of the cammember, 3, on the pin, 22, which is moved out of contact with the bell-crank lever, 15, against the action of the spring, 19, while the bell-crank lever itself is prevented from rotating by its pin, 20, making contact with the concentric surface, 12, of the second cammember, 4. (See Figure Qn a further rotation of the cam-shaft the second cammember, allows the pin, 20, on the bellcrank lever, 15, to drop into the space between the arms, 11, when the switch is auto matically closed with a quick make due to the spring, 19, on the bell-crank lever. In

this position (see Figure 3 the pin, 22, in

the lever, 21, is held in contact with the flat surface, 9, on the first cam-member, 3, so disposed that the spring, 24-, operating the lever, 21, tends to rotate the shaft on which the cam is mounted. The switch is thus,

closed and further rotation isprevented by an arm, 13, of the cam, 5, butting against pin, 23, and holding the turned-over portion, 29, of the arm, 26, against the disc, 31. (See dotted lines in Figure 2.) Immediately after the pin, 22, has contacted with the straight portion, 9, on cam, 3, further movement of the coin pocket itself is prevented by the projection, 50, but due to the pressure of the pin, 22, against the straight portion, 9, under the influen e of the spring, 2%, the shaft, 1, makes a slight further movement until stopped by arm, 13, of cam, 5, striking the. pin, 28, and holding the turned-over part, 29, of the lever, 26, against the disc, 31, as explained above. The coin pocket is then returned to its zero position and the coin ejected as described above.

During rotation of the coin pocket to close witch, the crown wheel, 32", is prevented otation by co-action of the worm, 32

2, runs round the crown'wheel, 32 carries with it the frame, 32, and disc, i 'idly secured thereto, the slot, 30, bel-ereby moved through a certain arc according to the amount prepaid. When the switch has been closed, however, and the coin pocket returned to its Zero position, the meter mechanism functions and by means of the worm, 32, and worm wheel, 32 runs the planet, 32 round the crown wheel, 32*, which is now stationary and thereby slowly'rotates the disc, 31, in a reverse direction, until the slot, 30, is in such a position that the bentover portion, 29, can enter it. The pin, 28,

isthen moved out of the path of arm, 13, and

thus allows the cam-shaft to rotate by the pressure of the spring, 24, through the pin,

22, on the fiat part, 9,'of the cam, 3. The pin, 22, slides down the straight surface, 8, and in so doing engages in the slot, 23, and rotates the bell-crank lever, thus opening the switch with a quick break.

It is to be understood that any handle or lever mechanism controlled by manual means may be provided for rotating the camshaft to close the switch positively and any other suitable mechanism can be used for rotating the trip cam either in conjunction with a differential mechanism or otherwise so that the switch is automatically opened at the end of a predetermined number of revolutions of the described above without departing from the scope of the invention. An electricity prethe thin disc is slight and therefore friction is a minimum.

The amount of power required to drive the opening mechanism is constant since the d1sc 1s circular and the force on the pendulous arm, 26, 1s constant for the whole rotatlon of the disc.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In combination'in a coin-freed prepayment electricity meter, a quick-make. electric switch; means for closing said switch; a manually-operable member rotatable through a certain arc; and means carried by said member and rendered operative on insertion of a coin for actuating said switch-closing means, said means being operative through only a portion of said arc.

2. In combination in a coin-freed prepayment electricity meter, a quick-make electric switch; a frame carrying a fixed stop; means for closing said switch; a manually-operable member rotatable through a certain arc limited by said stop; and means carried by said member and rendered operative on insertion of a coin for actuating said switch-closing means, said means being operative through only a short portion of said are adjacent said stop.

8. In combination in a coin-freed prepayment electricity meter, a quick-make electric switch; means for closing said switch; angularly-adjustable change-price means and a stop carried thereby; a manua1ly-operable member rotatable through a variable are determined by the position of said stop; and means carried by said rotatable member and rendered operative on insertion of a coin for actuating said switch-closing means, said means being operative through the same portion of said are whatever be the position of said stop.

4. The combination claimed in claim, 1, with the addition thereto of means for storing energy to open said switch, said means carried by said rotatable member serving both to actuate said switch-closing means and also said energy-storing means.

5. In combination in a coin-freed prepayment electricity meter, an electric switch having a pivoted bell-crank and a contact carried thereby; a manually-operable member rotatable through a certain arc; means for storing first-mentioned cam and co-acting with said pin; and a switch-closing spring opposing and of less strength than said lever-pressing spring, said switch-closing spring becoming operative on the release of said pin by said cam. 7. The combination claimed in claim 5, with the addition thereto of a trip cam rotatable with said first-mentioned cam; a pendulous trip finger; a stop thereon co-acting with said trip cam to prevent rotation thereof; and a meter-rotated member having an opening therein, said trip finger at a certain stage entering said opening and removing said stop to free said trip cam and permit said spring to open said switch.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. 

